On Tuesday this week Crawshawbooth and The Rossendale sports cluster were fortunate enough to receive a visit from www.daviessports.co.uk Primary Education ambassador David Horrocks a former head of science at Manchester United Football Club.

20 children attended from Crawshawbooth, Woodnook, Huncoat, West End & Sabden primary schools and were treated to both a practical and classroom session.

The Children decided Manchester City were currently the best football team in the world so a coaching session in the style of Pep Guardiola’s pass, move, control, and dominate via technical and tactical excellence was the chosen order of play.

The session was also measured via Premier and Champions League data provider www.statsports.com giving a fascinating insight into the children’s performance.

The average participant covered 1330 metres in a 45 minute session with the highest distance covered by Asa T at 2128 metres. For comparison purposes on average a premier league player will cover 10500 meters in a competitive game. Maximum speeds of over 5 metres per second were realised by 4 players these being, Harrison W, Ashaz Z, Asa T and Sam A. A tough considerable achievement given the school yard and a purposefully constrained Man City style 20 m x 20 m box was the setting for the session. In addition, distances of over 20m each minute were covered throughout the session (which was possession based so standing still is a factor) by Harrison W, Dexter B, Asa T, Ollie P and Maddie D.

The entirety of the data can be seen here although must be treated with caution as science dictates that before any presumptions should be made then a satisfiable large and consistent data set must be realised. The session today was for the purpose of giving the children an insight into the operations and capabilities of sports science in the elite settings and the career opportunities through academic study of subjects such as the sciences and maths.

Following the practical session, a mini lecture and Q and A took place on the careers available in sport such as scientist, psychologist, coach, drone pilot, technology manager, media, medical, coaching and managing to name but a few. The children asked several questions and they also inputted with some fantastic answers and ideas too throughout the day.

A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of sporting insight thanks to www.findeleducation.co.uk and Davies Sports.